– Kim Jaejoong

Kim Jaejoong (Korean: 김재중, Japanese: ジェジュン(Jejung?); born on January 26, 1986 as Han Jaejun), also known by his stage name Hero, is a Korean singer-songwriter, actor, and director.

Best known as a member of the Korean pop group JYJand one of the original members of TVXQ, he has branched out to act in dramas including Sunao ni Narenakute and Protect the Boss and in films such asHeaven’s Postman. He was also the Executive Director for JYJ’s 2011 Worldwide Tour and the 2011 LG Whisen Rhythmic All Stars.

Early life

Jaejoong was born as Han Jaejun in Gongju,Chungcheongnam-do, South Korea. At a young age, he was given up for adoption by his birth mother to the Kims and his name was changed to Kim Jaejoong. When he was fifteen, he moved to Seoul by himself in order to take part in the auditions held by SM Entertainment. Life in Seoul was financially difficult and he took various odd jobs to pay for rent, food, and training fees.

Career

TVXQ

Main article: TVXQ

Jaejoong auditioned at SM Entertainment in 2001 and was accepted into the agency.[1] From 2003 to 2010, he was the lead vocalist of South Korean boy band TVXQ, known as Dong Bang Shin Ki (DBSK) in South Korea and Tohoshinki in Japan. After TVXQ went on hiatus in early 2010, he and two other fellow band members Yoochun and Junsu formed formed a new three member group initially known as JUNSU/JEJUNG/YUCHUN in Japan.

JYJ

Main article: JYJ

Their debut Japanese language EP The… and their first concert DVD from Tokyo Dome Thanksgiving Live in Dome both reached No. 1 on the Japanese Oricon album and DVD charts.[2] The group’s global debut album, The Beginning, was released in October 2010. JYJ followed up in January 2011 with another EP in the format of a “Music Essay” entitled “Their Rooms, Our Story”.” JYJ’s second group album and first Korean language album In Heaven was released on September 28, 2011.

Solo singing projects

Apart from TVXQ and JYJ, Jaejoong has worked on solo activities as a singer. He sang, “Insa” (인사 lit. Greeting), for the soundtrack ofA Millionaire’s First Love.[5] Jaejoong collaborated with label-mates The Grace for the Japanese version of their song “Just for One Day”, which was featured on their fifth Japanese single and their debut album, Graceful 4.

Jaejoong also sang the solo track “Maze” for the fifth and final single of the Trick Project, “Keyword/Maze”. Jaejoong wrote and composed “Wasurenaide” (忘れないで lit. Don’t Forget?) which was included on Tohoshinki’s twenty-fifth single “Bolero/Kiss the Baby Sky/Wasurenaide.”[9][10] The song was also on their fourth Japanese album The Secret Code, along with the songs “9095” and “9096” which were also composed by Jaejoong. The song, “忘れないで” was used in television advertisement for cosmetics in Japan.

On September 30, 2009, Jaejoong and Yoochun released a self-composed single “Colors (Melody and Harmony)/Shelter.” The A-side track, Colors (Melody and Harmony), was used as the image song for Hello Kitty’s thirty-fifth year anniversary. Jaejoong and Yoochun also participated in “m-flo TRIBUTE -maison de m-flo” singing “Been So Long.”

Jaejoong sang “Love” for the soundtrack of the movie Heaven’s Postman in which he starred as the male lead. He also sang “Found You” and “For you It’s Separation, For me It’s Waiting” for the soundtrack of the television drama Sungkyunkwan Scandal, “I’ll Protect You” for the soundtrack of the television drama Protect the Boss, and “Living Like A Dream” for the soundtrack of the television DramaDr. Jin.

On January 17, 2013, Jaejoong will release his first solo mini album titled “Mine”[13]. The genre of the album will be rock-themed. Jaejoong will continue his comeback by celebrating the album launch and commemorating his birthday with his fans with two days of special concerts on January 26th and 27th at KINTEX Ilsan.

Composing & Songwriting

Role

Song

Language

Album

Composer; Lyricist

사랑아 울지마 (Saranga Uljima; Don’t Cry My Lover)

Korean

Mirotic – The 4th Album by DBSK

Co-composer with Yoochun

Kiss したまま、さよなら (Kiss Shita Mama Sayonara; As We Kissed, Goodbye)

Japanese

T – The 3rd Album by Tohoshinki

Composer; Lyricist

忘れないで (Wasurenaide; Don’t Forget)

Japanese

The Secret Code – The 4th Album by Tohoshinki

Composer; Lyricist; Arranger; all instruments

9095

Japanese

The Secret Code – The 4th Album by Tohoshinki

Composer; Lyricist; Arranger; all instruments

9096

Japanese

The Secret Code – The 4th Album by Tohoshinki

Composer; Arranger

Colors~Melody and Harmony~

Japanese

Colors (Melody and Harmony)/Shelter by JEJUNG & YUCHUN from Tohoshinki

Composer; Arranger; Programming

Shelter

Japanese

Colors (Melody and Harmony)/Shelter by JEJUNG & YUCHUN from Tohoshinki

Composer

Still in Love

English

The Beginning by JYJ

Composer; Lyricist; Arranger

Nine

Korean

Their Rooms “Our Story” (우리 이야기 “Our Story”) by JYJ

Composer; Lyricist; Arranger

Pierrot

Korean

Their Rooms “Our Story” (우리 이야기 “Our Story”) by JYJ

Composer; Lyricist

I.D.S.

Korean

Their Rooms “Our Story” (우리 이야기 “Our Story”) by JYJ

Lyricist

Boy’s Letter

Korean

In Heaven by JYJ

Composer; Arranger; Lyricist

Get Out

Korean

In Heaven by JYJ

Composer; Lyricist

In Heaven

Korean

In Heaven by JYJ

Composer; Lyricist

No Gain

Korean

Tarantallegra by Junsu

Composer; Lyricist

Until the Sun Rises

Korean

Until the Sun Rises by Baek Seung Heon

Composer; Lyricist

Stay

Korean

Jackal is Coming OST by Kim Jaejoong

Composer; Lyricist

Kiss Be

Korean

Jackal is Coming OST by Kim Jaejoong

Composer; Lyricist

나만의 위로(Healing for Myself)

Korean

Jackal is Coming OST by Kim Jaejoong

Lyricist

One Kiss

Korean

I / MINE by Kim Jaejoong

Lyricist

Mine

Korean

I / MINE by Kim Jaejoong

Composer; Lyricist

All Alone

Korean

I / MINE by Kim Jaejoong

Acting

Prior to his debut as a singer, Jaejoong worked as an extra, playing a soldier in film Taegeukgi. Along with the other members of TVXQ, he acted in television programmes, Banjun Theater and Vacation.[15][16]

In November 2009 Jaejoong co-starred with Han Hyo-joo in a joint Korean-Japanese telecinema Heaven’s Postman, as Shin Jaejun, a young man who delivers letters written by the living to the dead and helps lingering ghosts settle their earthly affairs.[17] This was followed by Fuji TV’s Japanese television drama Sunao ni Narenakute in September 2010. Where he portrayed a “doctor”, who moved from Korea to Japan with his younger sister, working for a medical equipment manufacturer.[18]

In August 2011, he starred in his first television series in South Korea, with Choi Kang-hee and Ji Sung in Korean drama Protect the Boss. He played the role of seemingly perfect Director Cha Mu-won, nicknamed “Prince of the Financial World” for his business acumen, who becomes frustrated and fight against the constraints in his life.[19] He was also in Ayumi Hamasaki’s music video for her 2010 song “Blossom”.

In May 2012, he starred in his second South Korean television series, Dr. Jin, with Song Seung-heon. He played the role of Kim Kyung Tak, a high-ranking officer of the police force of Joseon Dynasty, who is an illegitimate son of the Joseon era’s Prime Minister and his concubine. His character was entangled in a love triangle with his childhood friend, Hong Young-rae, and the drama’s main protagonist, Dr. Jin.[20]

Jaejoong starred in a teaser video along with actress Kim Ji-won, for debut song for Baek Seung-heon.[21] He also wrote the lyrics for the song “Until the Sun Rises”, which was released on 7 November.[22] However neither he nor Kim Ji-won were featured in the official full length music video.[23][24]

In November 2012, Jaejoong in his big screen debut in dark comedy feature film Jackal is Coming, portrayed Choi Hyun, a Hallyu star who is kidnapped by the assassin Bong Min-jung, played by labelmate Song Ji-hyo.[25][26]

Directing

Jaejoong served as Executive Director for the Asian leg of JYJ’s 2011 Worldwide Tour.[27] He also participated in the directing team for the 2011 LG Whisen Rhythmic All Stars.

Personal life

Injury

In September 2005, while rehearsing the dance steps for “Rising Sun”, Jaejoong ruptured his cartilage in his knee and was admitted to a hospital in Seoul.[28] He underwent surgery on the same day to repair the tissue.[29]

Suspension

On April 7, 2006 at 1:20 AM, Jaejoong was pulled over in his father’s friend’s BMW by a police officer on his way home from theRenaissance Hotels. He was ordered to take a breath test and his level of alcohol was revealed to be 0.071%. After spending 20 minutes at the police station, he was released. Due to violating traffic laws, Jaejoong was temporarily suspended from all TVXQ activities and had his license taken away for 100 days.[30]

Custody battle

On November 21, 2006, a man with the surname Han filed a lawsuit against Jaejoong’s guardians. Han claimed he was Jaejoong’s biological father, and thus wanted parental rights.[31]

Han cited the reason for the lawsuit against Jaejoong’s legal guardians as “for not going through the proper procedures before registering [Jaejoong] in [the legal guardians’] custody.”[32] He divorced Jaejoong’s biological mother in late 1980s, and gave up his custody over his child, leaving him under Mrs. Han’s custody. However, he had found out some years ago Jaejoong had been raised by a third party, not his biological mother. A DNA test was to be performed in order to prove validity of Han’s claim. Many legal consultants comment that since the adoption had taken place correctly according to the corresponding law, no legal change will be involved regardless of the outcome.

The first hearing was to be held in Jaejoong’s hometown, Gongju, on November 29, 2006. But on November 22, Han dropped the charges against Jaejoong’s legal guardians.[33] Han said that he originally intended to resolve his biological son’s military duty conflicts after being informed of dual citizenship by Ministry of Military Affairs, which involved verifying the fact that he is the biological father. He did not expect his intention to lead to such a scandal, and states that he was scarred by speculations that he wanted to take advantage of Jaejoong’s fame.

In reaction to the matter, Jaejoong uploaded a journal entry on his official fan club website, and said that he was informed of the existence of separate biological parents by his mother two or three years ago, and it had been quite a shock to him. With his current mother’s support, his biological mother has been able to keep in touch with him, and to meet occasionally, but whereabouts of his father had been unknown.[34]

He vigorously expressed his will to live by the name of “Kim Jaejoong,” not by his birth name Han Jaejoon (한재준), and promised to be loyal to all four of his parents.[34]

“Red…makes me think of the members who will continue having a very close relationship even in the future!”

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-Micky Yoochun-

"We have always been together as 5.
As the others are not with us right now, it’s embarrassing to say this, but I felt the love from them.
Therefore, I do not wish to forget the most important thing to me, and this song was written based on this feeling."
- Micky Yoochun during Colors promotions (FRaU November Issue) 2009

-About Dong Bang Shin Ki?-

- A thing which I treasure the most
-Micky Yoohun, Nikkan Daily SPorts 2009